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Monday, December 28, 2015

Rains saturate county

A screenshot from the National Weather Service's website shows a good portion of the
nation under some type of weather advisory. Flooding is the problem in Kentucky.

Despite off-and-on flooding due to heavy rains over the last few days, as of 10 a.m., the only road currently reported under water in Crittenden County is a portion of Cool Springs Road near the Tradewater River.

South Main Street near Conrad's Food Storeis a trouble spot during heavy rains like Marionhas experienced over recent days.

As recently as this morning, Ky. 902 between Dycusburg and Fredonia and Ky. 855 between Frances and Marion were closed. County roads that have been closed as water rises and falls during periods of heavy rain include Axle Creek, Phin Croft, Coleman and Fishtrap roads. A tile on Donald Winders Road washed out over the weekend, but Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said this morning that the problem was fixed.

"The damage has been relatively minor," he said. "It's been mostly trees across the road or debris left by water."

There have been no reports of any serious injuries or wrecks due to flooding over the last day or so.

Starting Wednesday with severe storms that passed through, almost 10 inches of rain has fallen on portions of the county. Magistrate Donnetta Travis reported a rain gauge at her home in southern Crittenden County had collected 9 inches of rain. However, the Kentucky Mesonet weather and climate data station in Repton showed just under 5 inches from Wednesday through Sunday.

"We've had a lot more rain around Dycusburg than in Mattoon," Newcom said.

All of Kentucky west of Lexington is currently under a flash flood warning or watch. Crittenden County remains in the watch area. A huge swath of the nation's mid-section is under some type of weather advisory, according to the National Weather Service.

Ky. 654 North is experiencing flooding

It's a pretty sure bet the potential for flooding will continue today. Showers and a thunderstorm are forecast into the evening, with a threat of heavy rain. The chance of precipitation according to NWS is 100 percent.

Newcom said warning signs remain up on county roads in areas prone to flooding during periods of heavy rain. Any high water is not expected to last, as major creeks and rivers continue draining the county.

"Right now, it's all headwaters," Newcom said.

The judge-executive said ditching and drainage work by the county over the last few months appears to have made an impact.

"There weren't nearly as many calls as usual," he said.

Beginning tonight, the dry-out begins. Through Sunday, according to NWS, no more rain is predicted. Temperatures however, will be significantly cooler into the new year.